Archive for
December 1st, 2013

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that guard J.J. Redick suffered a fracture in the small bone (pisiform) of his right hand and a tear of his right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in the second quarter of the Clippers 104-98 win over Sacramento on Nov. 29.

Redick is expected to miss approximately 6-8 weeks, and will be re-evaluated on Monday, Dec. 2 by hand specialist Dr. Steve Shin to determine further course of treatment.

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on Knicks guard J.R. Smith. The team played Friday, losing a close battle in Denver to the Nuggets:

Smith scored 11 points but shot just 1-for-7 from 3-point range as he struggles to rediscover his stroke following summertime knee surgery and a five-game suspension for violating the NBA’s drug policy.

Smith, last season’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year, is shooting a career-low 32.8 percent from the floor, and even worse from beyond the arc (28.6 percent). The Knicks are 1-9 since he returned from suspension entering Sunday’s game against New Orleans at the Garden.

“My jumper just hasn’t been there,” Smith said. “That’s situations where I got to make my teammates better, get guys open shots and keep driving to the hole. But one thing, I’m not going to stop shooting.”

Asked if his surgically repaired left knee has affected his shooting stroke and his overall play, Smith admitted: “Somewhat, but it’s all right, I’m still playing…It’s taking time. I’m not one to make excuses, but I got to play better. If it’s hurting that bad, then I shouldn’t be playing. I’m out there and I’m going to try to give it all I got.”

It’s too early, said the former point guard — too early to decide whether Brandon Jennings will eventually figure out how to play the most demanding of NBA positions.

“It takes a certain amount of time for a guy to do that,” said Jennings’ coach, Mo Cheeks. “He’s still young, still figuring out the position.”

The Pistons point guard is 24, which, by today’s NBA standards, isn’t terribly young. What Cheeks is talking about, however, is that Jennings hasn’t been asked to play point guard before in any traditional manner. Cheeks was raised that way. Jennings was not.

Cheeks knew where everyone on the floor was supposed to be — or supposed to be going. When they weren’t, he told them. Jennings is trying to learn that now, after a life of seeking out space to shoot.

With star sixth men of the past gone from the Oklahoma City Thunder, there’s been opportunity for supporting cast players to step up. And Jeremy Lamb has been doing just that. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting:

On this current five-game run, Lamb is averaging 10.8 points in 22.4 minutes. But more importantly, he has done it efficiently, shooting nearly 55 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point territory.

“He’s getting better,” Kevin Durant said of Lamb. “Experience is the best teacher. He’s going to take his bumps and bruises, but he’s a smart, smart player.”

The top overall pick in the draft is shooting 22 percent. His 10 turnovers equal his 10 baskets. He has shot as many 3-pointers (17) as Alonzo Gee in less than half as many minutes. He has only made three of them.

The first 16 games have been a disaster for Anthony Bennett. Entering Saturday’s home game against the Chicago Bulls, Bennett played fewer minutes and scored fewer points than undrafted rookie Matthew Dellavedova and equaled C.J. Miles’ turnover total in 80 less minutes. Nothing the Cavs have tried thus far with Bennett has worked.

So here’s an idea…

Start him.

Crazier yet, start him at small forward, a position where he has hardly ever practiced in his life.